Below, please find a non-inclusive list of psychological
tests that are often used by professionals, including a brief description of
each test and its use. This glossary is intended primarily as a starter-guide
for the layperson.

Note: In order to faciliate finding a particular
test or keyword, you may want to use the edit/find function in your internet
browser.

Beck Depression Inventory - Pencil/paper
test used in conjunction with professional where subjects rate themselves on
a variety of symptoms/experiences. Used to assess depression / level of depression.

Burns Depression / Anxiety checklists - Pencil/paper
tests where subject is asked to rate themselves on different symptoms, thoughts,
and feelings. Ratings then yield scores which are used to determine a subject's
level of depression or anxiety. These are two different checklists that are
used in conjunction with a trained professional.

Conner's Rating Scale - Rating
sheets that come in forms for parents or teachers that ask about a child's behavior
as it pertains to symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder. One of the most popular
rating forms for diagnosing childhood ADD.

Dementia Rating Scale - Assessment completed
by a professional for the purpose of diagnosing dementia and/or Alzheimer's
disease. Requires the subject to perform several tasks, such as following simple
instructions, performing basic hand coordination exercises, and short-term memory
and cognitition exercises. Is not the only assessment instrument that can be
used for diagnosing dementia. Can be used for relatively impaired individuals.

Eysenck Personality Questionnaire -
Pencil/paper test where subject is asked to complete a brief questionnaire in
a yes/no format, depending on how questions apply to them. Test yields four
scores, (Extraversion, Psychoticism, Neuroticism, and Lie - Note, the meaning
of these scales does not refer to the use of these four words as we commonly
know them. I.E., Psychoticism does not measure one's psychotic potential, etc.)
which then correspond to levels of four different personality traits.

Hamilton Depression Scale - Another
pencil/paper type test where a subject is asked to rate themselves on various
symptoms, thoughts, and feelings. Ratings are then turned into scores which
are interpreted as levels of depression. Test is scored by a trained professional.

House - Person - Tree Test - This
is a projective test where a subject is usually asked to draw separate pictures
of a house, a person, and a tree. They may be asked to draw in pencil, or in
colored crayon. They may also be asked to draw additional pictures, and are
often asked to create stories regarding these pictures. Professional generally
interprets these pictures/answers based on themes evident in the drawing, and
also based on other methods and theories. Scoring method for this type of test
often varies greatly.

Milan Multiaxial Clinical Inventory 2 (MCMI II) -
This is a pencil and paper test where subjects answer yes/no to various questions
about their experience, depending on how they pertain to them. Takes less time
to complete than the MMPI2, and yields information on various personality characteristics.
Is statistically well-normed and validated, but must be interpreted by an experienced
profession.

MMPI2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
Inventory 2) - This is a pencil and paper test, or can also
be completed on a computer, where subjects answer yes/no to various questions
depending on how they pertain to them. Can take upwards of one hour to complete.
Is statistically well-normed and validated, but must be interpreted by an experienced
professional. Measures various personality characteristics, including depression,
anxiety, obsessiveness, social introversion. Can also provide some measure of
thought disorder.

Myers - Briggs Type Indicator - Traditionally
a simple pencil/paper self-report test, subjects are asked to answer questions
based on their likes/dislikes and experiences. Test yields a four digit code
that sorts subjects into 16 personality types. Is often used to help individuals
make career-related decisions, or to understand their own way of looking at
and/or perceiving the world around them.

Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Exam (Cognistat) - An
assessment performed by a trained professional for the purpose of screening
for dementia and/or impairment in cognitive functioning that may be caused by
other conditions. Subjects are asked to perform various tasks, such as short-term
memory assessment, tile-design, sentence repetition, picture naming, and finding
similarities between objects. Is relatively sensitive to screening for early
dementia.

Rorschach Inkblot Test - Projective
test where subject is shown a series of inkblots and is asked what they see
in these inkblots. Test can be scored in a variety of different ways, and is
used primarily to uncover personality traits.. However, other uses of this test
have also been to investigate thought disorders, perception, and emotional issues.
There are several scoring systems for this test, many of which do not have adequate
reliability and/or scientific validity. Test should only be used by a licensed
mental health professional skilled in the use and scoring of this test.

Sentence Completion Blank - There
are numerous types of sentence-completion tests available, depending on population
to be tested. Generally, subject is given a 1-2 page form of incomplete sentences.
Sentences are started, and subject is asked to complete them. Professional scores
the test, usually on themes that are evident in the completed sentences. Test
is considered projective, and scoring methods vary greatly. Can yield information
on personality, stress, depression, etc.

Strong Interest Inventory - Usually
a pencil/paper test is a yes/no format where subject is asked to answer many
questions regarding their likes/dislikes and thoughts/ideas. Answers are then
compared to profiles of persons in various careers, and in this manner, subject
is given possible careers that they may be interested in.

Suicide Probability Scale - Pencil/paper
test administered by a trained professional where subjects rate themselves on
various thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Ratings are then turned into scores,
which are interpreted as a Suicide Risk profile. Suicide risk is determined
by scores, but also by various risk categories that a subject may fall into.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) -
Administered by a highly trained professional, subject is shown a series of
several cards depicting people in various situations. Subject is asked to tell
a detailed story about each card. Story is then interpreted by professional.
Scoring methods for this test vary greatly, as does the experience of examiner.
Is often used to assess personality, depression, world outlook, etc.

Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales - Used
along with a professional, parents, teachers, or care-givers rate subjects on
thier ability to successfully perform tasks in a variety of areas (I.E., daily
living, self-care, managing finances, etc.). Measures adaptive functioning and
is often used in the assessment of Mental Retardation and Pervasive Developmental
Disorders. For use in younger children up to adult age. Can be pencil/paper
interview, or is sometimes completed on a computer.

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Third Edition (WAIS-III)- Popular intelligence test. Asks subjects to perform multiple
tasks, such as vocabulary, mathmatical calculations, block design, and common
knowledge. Yields both a Verbal and Performance IQ, as well as a full-scale
(overall) IQ. Is statistically well-normed and validated. Must be administered
and scored by a trained professional. Often takes 45 minutes up to 2 hours to
complete.

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III (WISC-III) -
Popular intelligence test for children. Asks subjects
to perform multiple tasks, such as vocabulary, evaluating pictures, etc. Is
somewhat similar to adult version of this test, except it is normed for children.
Yields both a Verbal and Performance IQ, as well as a full-scale (overall) IQ.
Is statistically well-normed and validated. Must be administered and scored
by a trained professional. Often takes 45 minutes up to 2 hours to complete.

Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) -
Administered by a trained professional, this test assesses memory functioning,
especially when either cognitive impairment or dementia is suspected. Subjects
are asked to perform a variety of tasks, such as face recognition and story
recall. This test is normed and validated. Can often take a long time to complete
because of numerous subtests that must be administered for accurate scoring
- can easily take 1-2 hours.